Flow control washer



Aug 30, 1955 F. J. cANTALUPo 2,716,427

FLow CONTROL WASHER Filed May 28, 1951 United States Patent O FLOW CONTROL WASHER Francis J. Cantalupo, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Crane Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application May 28, 1951, Serial No. 228,584

2 Claims. (Cl. 138-45) This invention relates to a fluid flow control device.

More particularly, it is concerned with an improvement over the various types of similar control devices of a resilient washer-like material, such as that shown in my co-pending U. S. patent application, Serial No. 41,040, filed July 28, 1948, now Patent 2,667,900, February 2, 1954.

Numerous experiments with a flow control device of the type disclosed in the above referred to application have shown that device to be frequently unsatisfactory when subjected to high pressures under which the device will collapse. Thus, the herein disclosed device is an improvement over that construction.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a fluid flow control device which is relatively simple in construction and effects the accurate and sensitive control of the flow of fluids at varying fluid temperatures and pressures.

Another important object of this invention is to provide for a flow control device, in which a relatively large variety of materials can easily be used in the construction of the device without detracting fromits excellent performance, such materials can comprise rubber, synthetic compositions, plastics, resilient materials, and the like.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide` a fluid flow control device which is easily removed from its assembled position for purposes of repair or replacement of the device.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional assembly view showing the flow control device installed within a pressure vessel and when devoid of line fluid pressure.

Fig. 2 is a magnified view of one embodiment of the flow control device as a single unit.

Fig. 3 is a magnified view of another embodiment of the flow control device as a single unit.

Fig. 4 is a magnified View of the flow control device shown in Fig. 2 under the influence of line fluid pressure.

Fig. 5 is a magnified View of the flow control device shown in Fig. 3 under the influence of fluid pressure.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several-views.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a nozzle, generally designated 1, is clamped between two complementary members 2 and 3 forming a pressure-retaining body in any suitable manner, so as to be maintained in fluid tight relation, with the nozzle 1 preferably mounted telescopically within the member 3 to extend axially therewithin as illustrated. The nozzle 1 is provided with a cylindrical chamber 4 in which is placed the novel fluid flow control dstortable or compressible member 5, being preferably snugly disposed therewith as shown. It is preferred that the member 5 is formed from a rubber material, but it should be understood that any resilient material, such as a synthetic composition or plastic, could be benecially employed, depending ,on the nature of the service involved.

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The control device 5 is shaped as indicated with a central passage 6 axially aligned with the chamber 4, thereby to provide an extension'of the bore 7 of nozzle member 1. lt should be noted that the chamber 4 is relatively larger than nozzle bore 7 with the fluid control member or Washer S having an outside diameter corresponding to the diameter of the chamber 4. Thus, it will be apparent that the control device is shouldered within the nozzle member 1, while the entire construction provides for substantially a unitary central flow aperture therethrough.

It should further be noted that in this description of the entire construction, an annularly flanged portion 8 of the nozzle 1 is received between oppositely disposed flanges of the member 2 and 3 to serve as a gasket member therebetween and effect the above referred to fluid tight relation. To complete assembly of the construction, a plurality of bolts 9 with corresponding nuts 10 are engaged in the oppositely disposed flange portions of members 2 and 3 to secure the same as shown.

Referring again to the flow control device 5, it will be seen that a ferrule member 12 is positioned with the controldevice 5 as hereinafter described. The general shape of the ferrule 12 is preferably cylindrical, while being provided with a lower annularly flanged outwardly extending portion 13 which is positioned on the base portion of the nozzle chamber 4. It will thus be apparent that the fluid control device 5 and the ferrule member 12 are completely received within the outer limits of the chamber 4, while the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of the ferrule 12 is shown to project within the flow passage of the nozzle member 1, as shown. The length of the ferrule is predetermiuately related to the length of the compressible member 5 which, therefore, has an unsupported portion for the remainder of its length.

As'shown in Figs. 3 and 5, a variation in'the arrangement of the ferrule member 12, with respect to the flow control device may also be constructed. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the ferrule is arranged to project within the aperture of the flow control device 5, as the outside diameter of the cylindrical portion of the ferrule 12 is snugly fitted within the central aperture 6 of the fluid flow control member. A variation of this construction which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the ferrule 16 is molded or countersunk within the internal diameter 17 of a resilient fluid control device 18 with a lower annularly flanged portion 19 of the ferrule 16 forming the base of the assembly. In this construction, it will be apparent that the bore or aperture 17 of the control device and the internal diameter 21 of the ferrule are aligned to provide a continuous and uniform diameter of the flow passage therethrough. The choice between these variations shown in Figs. 2 and 3 would be dependent upon working conditions encountered in the lleld.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the nozzle member 1, shown in Fig. 1, with the fluid flow control devices of Figs. 2 and 3 respectively disposed therewithin and as they appear when subjected to line fluid pressure. It will be noted that the reaction as shown in the drawings is that of slightly compressing the resilient control devices 5 and 18 by means of the fluid pressure acting thereupon. Since the resilient devices cannot expand outwardly within the chamber 4 of nozzle 1, the internal diameters of the members 5 and 18 are radially lessened, as shown in the drawings, thereby to reduce the size of flow aperture through the control device as indicated. Thus, a portion of the resilient control devices which extends above the upper limit of the respective ferrule members is compressed inwardly under line fluid pressure to effect a corresponding reduction in internal diameters of the resilient members in proportion to the intensity of fluid -tpressurevtoftherebyfeffect-tan adjustable flow aperture .thrugll .the control .device It will thus be understood in considering the action of the uid flow control devices under the intluence of line tuidwpressure, tthelfollowingoccurs at lowfiuidpressures, ow: rthrough the. eentral -apertureeei the ldei/ice isi -in-an .unrestrictedwmannen --As-the uid pressure `is-increased, uforce isi-applied .bytheflilud .against lthe upstream surface of therres'ilienti material causing the unsupportedl -portion `above:A theuupper 'limits Aof '.theffferrule to Ibe forcedinwardly L- and r .thereby .restrict the aperture rtopreventan .increasein lthedlow -rateatithat pressure. `Thus,-at varying' uid pressures, -'the aperture is correspondingly varied to.,- givef Ithe` i desired- .resultx of a relatively constant Hilow iratezovena, range ofsvaryingpressures. i 1By properselec- `;tiou-f1= theresilientlrrlaterial, -and-also'considering `-the tdimensions of #the resilientmaterial-v relative to Ithe ferrule, l-the'rangenof varyingliluidpressurespoverwhich the device isA eective,V` aan -be easily accurately controlled =within Efiner! limits than heretoforefObviously,:"orffthe oontrol-devices-to be effective, as kdescribedv 'abovepat least: a porti-on of the .internaladiameters thereo-fmustbefree yto.be compressed inwardly. f'lheitferrule members can extend konly' afzpredetermined fdistance along f Ito -inner bores of thewdevices with fthe precise fdistance being critical in f =the operation f of fthe Vcontrolfdevice. )It should be understood that-employment ofa: reinforcing vmember suchV as' =the=ferrule provides ,Eer *the accurater control offuidI :flow at higher "fluidpressures than heretofore 4permitted with -the' control devices-of 'the priorart. The-use of the ferrule supported lin fthe-*manner of this -inventiontwoids Ithe collapsey or-excessive .reduction of theinner diameter oiVA the resilient -deviee-underv high pressures' and it also Aresults in\amoreaccurate'fflowcon- `trol overa greaterrange offfluidpressure-changes.

t-In'llight of the above description, it will: .beapparent :that -asimp1e-andt-etective=-uidi2flow control devicel has `been-invented. ith-is# not thev intent to -bellimitedbby lthe specific constructions and applications shown herein-as numerous changes-Gould be made -Withirry the scopev of theappendedfclaims.

f l. The combination in -.a -low control means in abody having `a chamber withy an upstream `and f' downstream portion; a-distortable `rubber-like annular member. snugly receivable-Within the t said body chamber 'for Aits Stull length `and having -af eentral flow aperture therethrough, aerelatively rigidsannular--reinforeingmember of shorter length than the said lrubber-likev annular member.- and ;of-continuous L-seetionI withaninwardly .projecting wre "duced -annular Vlongitudinal por-tion snugly -freceiv'able `Within tliecentralt ilow aperture oiV said -Jdistortablei :member to Aclosely -eontact-1the wallyportion thereof .l-.tor :a

predetermined length thereof and support the latter portion ...against deformation inwardly within the flew aperture, the remainder of the length of the said distortable member being annularly unsupported except for the 5 outer periphery thereof within the body chamber and being free to compress and deform circumferentially in- Wardly thereby to reduce the diameter of the central ow aperture for a distance substantially measured longitudinally by the ,saidyfinner unsupported; portion of the said l0 distortable member, the said unsupported end portion of the said .distortttble -membertextending substantiallwbeyond the-'upstream -end of the reduced `-annular portion of the saidrrigidi-reinfercingamembergand .defer-ming anuularly inwardly upon the application` predeterminately l5 of fluid pressureagainstatransverse-exposed end surface of the distortable member adjacent the upstream end of the said body chamber.

2. The combination in a ow control means in a body -having a-chamber.dened at `one end thereo by a- `shoul- -derl between an upstream'A and :downstreamportion-thereof, 4a distort'able-'rubberlike.annular member snugly reeeivablewithinthe ksaidhbody chamberlfor substantially -its1 fullilength 1and havinga centralow--aperturentherethrough, *.alrelatively irigidA annular reinforcing` member of continuous L-section having a reduced'annulargpop tion-snugly` -ree'eivablewithin 4the xcentral flow-aperture of -said-fdistortable-mernberl to'y closelytoontact the wall porftion thereof for Va-idistance substantiallylessuhanthe overall hlength. of said distortable annular l member -and support the latter portionl -against deformationl inwardly within the ow aperture,.1the-saidl annl'llar-freinforcing xrnentberbeingsupported? in end-.abutting relation' upon vthe shoulder tof-said chamber, the-latter abutting-'support being' vfor the l" full` width A- of; the said: y'chamber-t shoulder, the remaininglength-of the said distortable member being unsupported except for its outerA periphery adjacentflthe `upstreami portion( -of4 said body -a11dfbeingl` free Ito idistort -annularly inwardly =thereby to reduce 1 ithe t diameter `of fthe central 110W aperture ifor 4a `distance Asubstantially measuredLlongitudinally;by #the unsupported f innerperipherai portion of '-thesaid. ldistertable tmemberuinnresponse to 'the ifluidpressure applied @against =v an -end 1 annular surfaceA on *the =said ldistortable l member :adjacent Lthe'-bodytshamber-upstream-portion.

References Cited in the file of ktl1is;.pat=11t NITED STATES PATENTS 

